RESPECT PERSISTENCE RESPONSIBILITY CONFIDENCE

newsletter 15 February 2018

A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540 P (08) 8632 0400 F (08) 8632 3195 W www.jpss.sa.edu.au

WRITING IS AN IMPROVEMENT FOCUS Our school has identified WRITING as an area of improvement for all students. It has been a focus area for 15 months; staff have developed a writing agreement that has and will continue to change their practice, we’ve engaged in professional learning and partnered with literacy consultant Dr Rosie Kerin to provide expert guidance. Our goal is to substantially enhance young people’s capacity to write for a range of purposes and audiences.

WHY Writing? Writing is a vital component of almost all subject areas at all year levels. It provides a core means of communicating understanding and thinking. Put simply better writing supports higher academic achievement and is essential for increased success in the senior school years. We notice that young people don’t readily engage in writing, some complain it’s boring, others don’t persist or lack the confidence or skills necessary. We recognise that better attitudes and greater proficiency in writing rely on us doing something different.

Last year we rewrote the Year 8 English curriculum, agreed all staff in all subject areas will strengthen student vocabulary and developed our own understanding of sentence structure and how to support students grow this capacity. In 2018 this work continues; we’ll introduce charts and posters, do more work on text types, review the Year 9 English course and maintain emphasis on vocabulary and sentence structure.

Achieving the outcomes, we want – better curriculum, increased teacher capacity, real engagement from students and higher achievement in writing and across all learning areas will take time but we’ve bought into Better Writing for the long haul and I am confident it will be powerful in delivering the next level of school improvement that we are seeking.

Coming Events

February

21: Year 8 Barbecue

21: SACE Information Evening

22: School Photos

23: Pupil Free Day

March

5: Year 12 HPE Camp

12: Public Holiday

19: Governing Council AGM

22: Year 8 Immunisations

30: Good Friday

April

2: Easter Monday

8: WORKING BEE

Sunday 9am -12:00pm

13: End Term 1 – Dismissal 2.15pm

Leadership Team

Principal: Roger Nottage

Deputy Principal: Maciej Jankowski

Assistant Principals: Cara Fiebig Rachel Gray Graham Hoile Lisa Key

School Links

J O H N P I R I E S E C O N D A R Y S C H O O L | s t r i v i n g f o r e x c e l l e n c e

A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540 P (08) 8632 0400 F (08) 8632 3195 W jpss.sa.edu.au

Breakfast Club

The JPSS Breakfast Club program is run before school from Tuesdays to Fridays, 8.20 – 8.45am by volunteers in the HPD centre. Donations from Bakers Delight, Foodbank SA, Nyrstar and Kickstart for Kids allow a variety of nutritional tasty options to be offered. Pancakes on Tuesdays and Fridays, bacon and egg sandwiches or smoothies on Wednesdays and cheese toasties on Thursdays are our specials. Also included daily are toast, cereal, fruit, yogurt, sandwiches, milk, juice and milo.

If students don't need breakfast they can still drop in for the social side of it, just to hang out and talk. Breakfast in a social atmosphere helps to develop positive social skills. Feedback from the students is encouraging; you’ll find most just enjoying whatever we’re making with some even pitching in to help make pancakes when it’s really busy.

Breakfast Club wouldn’t be possible without the help of the few great staff volunteers who donate their time each morning and the continued support from sponsors and the school itself.

Cathi Buchanan Breakfast Club Co-ordinator

English as an Additional Language or Dialect

John Pirie Secondary School prides itself on a strong commitment to diversity and Building Better Futures for all. Students who have English as an additional language (EALD) are a part of our community and add to the cultural diversity of the school. We have students who come from a range of ethnicities including Romanian, Indonesian, Indian, Greek, Thai and Aboriginal. This year we have also welcomed two international students Thu and Mannie Chau from Vietnam. All add a richness to our school and enable learning about their heritage, customs and traditions.

Our EALD students have experienced great success with DUX of the school Avikesh Prasad in 2015 and 2017 students Sujata Devi, Jennifer Huynh, Crystal Lam and Kenny Yeung being offered university placement in the fields of Health and Medical Science, Engineering, Aviation and Business.

None of this is possible without literacy support in place and the EALD Support Officer at John Pirie is Mrs Sarah Griffiths. Funding for this support is provided by the state government and all students are assessed for this. Sarah’s role is to work with EALD students across all year levels and for students with various levels of literacy. Although she can work in all classes her main support role is in English where she helps students to improve their literacy skills, access the language of the curriculum and help them with any language and cultural difficulties that they may experience. Sarah builds many positive relationships with her students who really value her for her patience and explanations. She also works with teachers to support them in developing resources and updating them on any issues that may arise. Having had Sarah in my own class, I know that I and the students find her support invaluable!

Karen Rohde English/EALD Co-ordinator

A message from Student Services

Students who are ill need to inform their teacher who will then write a note and send them to Student Services. Staff who work in this area will telephone parents/caregivers. Students are not to phone home and report that they are ill.

Parents who need to contact students will need to remind them to check their phones at recess and lunchtime when it applies to messages, leaving lunches, money or appointment times at Student Services. If students do not have a mobile phone please contact Student Services where other arrangements will be made.

Please be aware that messages received after 3:00pm are not guaranteed to be actioned.

J O H N P I R I E S E C O N D A R Y S C H O O L | s t r i v i n g f o r e x c e l l e n c e

A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540 P (08) 8632 0400 F (08) 8632 3195 W jpss.sa.edu.au

Year 8 Camp

As part of the transition program, the Middle School team ran the annual Year 8 Camp in week 2. Classes were divided into two groups with Miss Andrews’ 881, Mr Fischer’s 882 and Miss Duell’s M48 travelling to Wallaroo on Monday. They were then joined by Mr Ward’s 841, Miss John’s 883 and Mr Wright’s 884 on Tuesday.

All year 8 students were present on Tuesday where they spent the day beating the heat fishing and swimming. Students stayed at CU@Wallaroo and participated in getting to know you activities, team work challenges and games that allowed them to build relationships with both staff and students. Students also engaged in activities such as fishing and crabbing, a night walk around Wallaroo, beach activities and beach sports. The Wallaroo playground was also a favourite with students.

Students enjoyed the camp food including muffins, pasta bolognese, ice cream and salad rolls. Overall, the camp was a success and both staff and students had a fabulous time. Cara Fiebig Middle School Assistant Principal

J O H N P I R I E S E C O N D A R Y S C H O O L | s t r i v i n g f o r e x c e l l e n c e

A 40 Mary Elie Street Port Pirie SA 5540 P (08) 8632 0400 F (08) 8632 3195 W jpss.sa.edu.au

School Photos 22 February 2018

School photos will be taken at school on THURSDAY 22

FEBRUARY 2018 in the Drama Room. All Students must be in full school uniform. You have received your school photos information pack. Envelopes containing orders need to be handed to the photographer when you have your photograph taken. Please read the information very carefully, as the school does not handle any money or envelopes. Please ensure that money placed in envelopes is correct as the school cannot provide change. Parents are reminded that if they are dropping off envelopes to the Front Office that they make arrangements for their child to collect the envelope.

Family photographs (Current students only) – a quantity of envelopes are provided for anyone requesting this, and are available from Student Services or the Front Office of the school from the 12/02/2018. Family Photos will be taken at recess time (maximum of 4 people). Students wanting a Group/Friend Photo are to report to Drama room during care group to arrange their portrait. Every student must have their photo taken for their ID Card. Cards will be processed on the day. School will pay cost of ID Cards. Replacement of lost ID Cards will cost $5.00. All money for photos is to be placed in the School Photo envelope and handed to Academy Photography on photo day. Every student must return their envelope – even if not buying photos. Sonya Bennett Business Manager

Material Services & Charges

Material Services & Charges for 2018 are due now. If you are eligible for School Card please apply. School Card applications forms are available from the school office.

Hip Hop Bounce

DANCE, CHEER, TUMBLE and SING, Hip Hop Bounce are now open for 2018 enrolments in our Port Pirie campus, as well as campuses in Jamestown, Clare and Whyalla. Come and share our passion for dance; make new friends and have fun whilst getting fit, boosting your confidence and learning great dance technique. All students are invited to perform at our annual end of year Spectacular at the Northern Festival Centre. Everyone is welcome to come and try, no experience necessary. Enrolments are now open for our exciting 2018 timetable... *Huge range of dance styles including Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Bounce- Sing (Musical Theatre), Contemporary, Bounce Boys Crew and Adult’s Dance Fitness. *Take classes to perform, compete or just for fun; 2 years to adults, beginner to advanced. *All competition teams are now open to new members, we have teams for 6 years to adults in Hip Hop, All Star Cheer, Pom, Jazz and Contemporary. *Five nights of classes in Port Pirie, over 50 classes to choose from. Contact Natasha for details and to book your place- classes are filling quickly. natasha@hiphopbounce.com.au 0416 239 676

Crystal Brook Junior Tennis Tournament

To be held at the Crystal Brook Tennis Courts. Entrance fee per child $10.00. 9:30 for a 10:00am start. Age Groups: - 16 and Under, 13 and Under, and 11 and Under. Lunch and refreshments available. Email registrations forms to: crystalbrooktennnisclub@gmail.com or SMS enquiries: Jade Inglis 041787218 by Thursday 22

nd February 2018

Playgroup with Monique Button

We have had a very busy start to the year at Playgroup, with lots of families coming along to play and have fun. Playgroup operates out of the Drama Hall every Monday morning during term (apart from public holidays) from 9.30am until 11am. We welcome everyone from newborns to 5 year olds, parents, grandparents and carers. It is a free service with fruit kindly supplied by the TLAP program.

Playgroup is a great opportunity for children to interact with others to play, make a mess, and learn in a fun environment. It can also be great for parents to catch up and share ideas and support each other, so feel free to bring a friend along too!